Big chunks fallen off an Oak and a Beech

[Stereo]

I have a couple trees on my land which have recently lost a big part of themselves. The first is a pretty old beech which is a wonderful old tree. The limb which came off was one I used to sit on as a child. It's split away from the body of the tree leaving a large wound.

 

The second is a youngish Oak (maybe 20cm dia). It's like it was hit by lightning but I think it's just a weakness in the tree. A whole 'side' of the tree fell off, again leaving a large wound.

 

I've noticed at Dartington that they paint such wounds with some sort of black gunk. Are these trees doomed? The oak could be logged without too much discussion as it's not a landmark. The beech is something else. It's one of 'those' trees which you feel you have no right to be messing with. A piece of history. Maybe I should take some pics next time I take the dogs out and post them up somehow.

[MattyF]

Usually painting wounds seals in bacteria and creates a nice warm damp enviroment for them to carry on doing what they do!a bit like when you leave a plaster on for to long! Anti fungicide paint like arborex might help but Personaly I would leave well alone and let nature take it's course, the big beech maybe worth reducing if you want to retain and help prevent further limb loss opening up more stem heart wood.

[Stereo]

Thanks, I think I'll have to get the beech looked at as it's overhanging the land of a manor house and kids often play around it.

[pjd1001]

The beech needs to be inspected by an arboriculturist if there are significant targets.

 

Regarding the oak though, the dry spring we had this year has led to a fair few cases of summer branch drop in oaks. It's a defence system they have when under water stress.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I have a couple trees on my land which have recently lost a big part of themselves. The first is a pretty old beech which is a wonderful old tree. The limb which came off was one I used to sit on as a child. It's split away from the body of the tree leaving a large wound.

 

The second is a youngish Oak (maybe 20cm dia). It's like it was hit by lightning but I think it's just a weakness in the tree. A whole 'side' of the tree fell off, again leaving a large wound.

 

I've noticed at Dartington that they paint such wounds with some sort of black gunk. Are these trees doomed? The oak could be logged without too much discussion as it's not a landmark. The beech is something else. It's one of 'those' trees which you feel you have no right to be messing with. A piece of history. Maybe I should take some pics next time I take the dogs out and post them up somehow.

 

 

where in the world are you stereo

[Stereo]

Down in South Devon. I'll try to post some photos if I can work out how to get them off my iphone and onto here.

[PhilBeech]

Download the tapatalk app, login to this forum using your login details, it will then give you an option to post pics direct from your phone.

[Stereo]

I've got that on my iphone, will have a go.

[Stereo]

Pics

[David Goss]

the beech looks like a classic compression fork crack just outlived its time and came off, possibly weakened by kids sitting on it:sneaky2:

the oak i cant see well enough to comment on the picture. Thats my 2 bobs worth anyway

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The oak is the classic compression fork/co dominant stem. the beech is just being a beech! probably some decay at the union, look out for the stunning pholiotta aurivella which if your lucky will fruit in clumps from the wound. the golden sclay cap is a stunning fungi.